NCMA Exams

Managing the Business of Enterprise IT

The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) was founded in 1959 and supports over 20,000 members. While technical certifications prove you can configure a network or deploy a cloud environment, NCMA credentials prove you can navigate the legal and financial frameworks that make those technologies available.

Enterprise IT runs on contracts. Software licensing agreements, cloud service level agreements, and hardware procurement all require strict oversight. Professionals who manage vendor relationships or oversee large-scale IT acquisitions use NCMA standards to align technical requirements with business realities.

The CPCM Certification

The CPCM: Certified Professional Contracts Manager is NCMA’s top-tier credential. It validates your expertise across the entire contract life cycle, from pre-award planning to post-award execution and closeout.

This certification is grounded in the Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK). It requires candidates to understand both commercial and government contracting principles. Earning the CPCM proves you can handle complex negotiations, mitigate supply chain risks, and enforce vendor compliance.

NCMA maintains strict prerequisites for this exam. Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree, demonstrate five years of relevant work experience, and complete 120 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) before applying.

Exam Format and Expectations

The CPCM exam tests your ability to apply contractual knowledge to real-world scenarios. You have four hours to complete 180 multiple-choice questions. Ten of those questions are unscored beta items distributed randomly throughout the test.

To pass, you must achieve a score of 72.2 percent. The test is administered either in person or via online proctoring.

Because the exam relies on the CMBOK, questions test objective application rather than rote memorization. You will need to identify the correct performance areas in incentive contracts, recognize risk-shifting clauses, and understand when to apply specific pricing models.

Professional Impact

The CPCM holds accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), giving it recognized weight in both the public and private sectors. For IT procurement managers, enterprise architects, and vendor managers, this credential changes the nature of your role.

Instead of simply passing technical requirements to a legal department, a CPCM-certified professional can actively shape the acquisition strategy. When an organization transitions a legacy data center to a multi-cloud architecture, the technical migration plan only succeeds if the underlying vendor contracts protect the organization from cost overruns and service outages. Holding the CPCM ensures you have the authority to draft, negotiate, and enforce those protections.